Many of the organizations that provide the only queer support in communities have names that erase community members beyond the L & G. Inclusive language continues to become more mainstream as local groups publicly move from gay rights to LGBTQIA rights. This year the The Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s became the more comprehensive LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois. Some students have begun more clearly welcoming all queer youth with a localized update from Gay-Straight Alliance to Gender and Sexuality Alliance. The highly trafficked Huffington Post’s Gay Voices announced in February they were becoming Queer Voices in a targeted effort to create a more inclusive space.

September holds a special space of Bi Visibility, housing Bi Week, Bi Visibility Day, and a month of programming. Bi’s blew up social media during Bi Week 2016. A GLAAD panel featured bi folks talking representation in media. The month long celebration of bisexuality closed out with a Bisexual Community Briefing at one of the most powerful locations in the US: The White House.

“Scholar, educator, cultural worker and public intellectual of multi-religiosity” Shaykh Dr. Ibrahim Abdurrahman Farajajé passed away in February. In his honor, the Journal of Bisexuality has a call out for proposals of works “that clarify the importance of the life and work of Ibrahim Baba.”

Sara Ramirez

Amandla Stenberg’s January out-coming remains influential, and many other celebrities were to follow. Andy Mientus came out on Instagram, Bella Thorne came out with a kiss, and Aubrey Plaza came out in an interview. Nico Tortorella took a public journey familiar to many of us, originally eschewing then embracing the bi label. Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui named her bisexuality in a powerful open letter in response to the election. Many members of the bi community got visible on social media: Stephanie Beatriz, Mara Wilson, and Youtuber Eva Gutowski all came out on twitter. Sara Ramirez also came out on twitter, but not before speaking about her intersecting identities at the True Colors: 40 to None Summit. And live from Comic Con, Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar shared that her queer friendly programming choices stemmed directly from her lived experience as a bi woman.

Bill Posley released his new web series, By the Bi, exploring his personal experience as a bi man. Bi comedian Gaby Dunn’s Just Between Us brought us new bi-inclusive content. The Feels launched its daily shorts on bi guy Charlie and all his feelings. Shortly after coming out of the closet, bi actor Stephanie Beatriz came out with a weekly queer-friendly, feminist podcast Reality Bytes.

After a long and worthwhile wait, Frank Ocean released “LGBT Masterpiece” Blonde. Bi artist and LGBT activist Lady Gaga’s Joanne finally reached shelves and airwaves in October. My Brother’s A Keeper, a play written and directed by co-editor of Recognize: The Voices of Bisexual Men, playwright/poet, sexologist, and social entrepreneur Dr. Herukhuti premiered at The Bronx Academy for Arts and Dance in November. The play also stars David J. Cork, creator of Bi: The Webseries.

Visible bisexuality grew in leaps and bounds this year, and remains vital to the well being of bi people. Though not all news was good, every bit helped to further the message that bi people have life experiences and needs disparate from the general LGBT community. There was so much to celebrate in 2016, and hopefully the new year will bring even more.

SB Swartz is an author covering inclusive wellness, queer family, and reflections of our world as seen on tv. She’s a proud member of the #StillBisexual campaign, working to dispel the myth that bisexuals don't stay bisexual. Her home is filled with Battlestar Galactica posters, her husband, and their troublemaking cats. She adores them all.

Follow SB Swartz on Twitter @sbswrites and see more of her work @sbswartz on medium.